The comeback of James Blake seems to be gathering speed as the American finds his form on his home courts after difficulties with tendinitis of his patella tendons (knees). In Washington, Blake put on a stellar performance before the big serving giant John Isner finally won 7-6, 1-6, 7-6 for a place in the quarterfinals.
Isner will now play Viktor Troicki for a chance to face the winner of Tipsarevic V Monfils for a place in the finals. Read more
Posted in Gael Monfils, Injury, James Blake, Janko Tipsarevic, John Isner, Washington
As a part of the celebrations for the 125th year of the Wimbledon Championships an extensive collection of match footage has been released on iTunes. The footage ranges from interviews with past and present players, behind the scenes footage and some match play from some of the greatest matches ever played at Wimbledon. As they say in the documentary Wimbledon is a place where legends are born and memories are created. Read more
To break the lengthy draw analysis in two parts I have separated the explanation about what’s at stake for the big boys Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic and what to look for in the early rounds into another post (click here).
If we look at the draw as a whole it’s hard to look beyond Federer as champion. Read more
Posted in Alejandro Falla, Andy Murray, Andy Roddick, David Ferrer, Dudi Sela, Ernests Gulbis, Fabio Fognini, Feliciano Lopez, Fernando Verdasco, Gael Monfils, Gilles Simon, Injury, Ivan Dodig, Ivan Ljubicic, Ivo Karlovic, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, John Isner, Juan Martin Del Potro, Juan Monaco, Marcos Baghdatis, Mardy Fish, Milos Raonic, Nicolas Almagro, Nicolas Mahut, Novak Djokovic, Pete Sampras, Radek Stepanek, Rafael Nadal, Richard Gasquet, Robin Soderling, Roger Federer, Roland Garros, Thomaz Bellucci, Tomas Berdych, Viktor Troicki, Wimbledon
Given the recent form of some of the higher ranked players (Berdych I’m looking at you here) and the significant number of highly ranked fatigued (Djokovic, Federer, Nadal) and injured players (Simon, Fish) looking at the first round match ups took longer than it normally does. Recently players like Ivan Dodig, Andreas Seppi, Philipp Kohlschreiber and Janko Tipsarevic have stepped up and played some great tennis on grass and should make for an interesting Wimbledon. Read more
Posted in Andy Murray, Fabio Fognini, Fernando Gonzalez, Fernando Verdasco, Gilles Simon, Injury, Ivan Dodig, Ivan Ljubicic, Ivo Karlovic, Janko Tipsarevic, John Isner, Marin Cilic, Milos Raonic, Nicolas Mahut, Novak Djokovic, Philipp Kohlschreiber, Philipp Petzschner, Radek Stepanek, Rafael Nadal, Robin Haase, Robin Soderling, Roger Federer, Roland Garros, Wimbledon
Now before 
you all get seriously concerned I am not suggesting that Rafael Nadal has actually had some sort of traumatic brain injury. Brain injuries of any sort are very serious but it is also the body part or organ that I think is affecting Rafa most at the moment.
Nadal has long been known for his exceptional mental toughness and while he is still more mentally focuses than most other players something seems to have switched. Read more
Posted in Body Watch, Injury, Ivan Ljubicic, John Isner, Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Roland Garros
“
I didn’t play well in the tie break. I was probably too nervous. But anyway, it was a very, very important victory for me.” – Rafael Nadal
“The way he played in the fourth and fifth set — I haven’t seen tennis like that, ever. That’s why he’s No. 1 in the world, and one of the greatest ever.
I mean, that 30-all point in the last game, I needed oxygen after that. I almost collapsed. My legs were dead.” – John Isner Read more
Posted in John Isner, Rafael Nadal, Roland Garros
On paper the first round match between defending champion Rafael Nadal and John Isner was the match most likely to be problematic for a top seed in the draw. Nadal’s concern over the danger posed by the huge serving John Isner, ranked 39 in the world, proved to be well founded as the American had Nadal under serious threat of a first round defeat on his ‘home’ turf.
Nadal had never played a five set match at Roland Garros prior to today. Nadal had never lost a set in his first round matches in Paris before today. John Isner has changed that but it was Nadal who eventually disarmed Isner 6-4, 6-7, 6-7, 6-2, 6-4 after four hours of play. Read more
Posted in John Isner, King of Clay, Match Report, Rafael Nadal, Robin Soderling, Roland Garros
This years men’s Roland Garros draw has the potential to produce a great tournament with some really interesting match ups if the seeds perform. The fluctuating recent form of the top male players doesn’t give me much hope of this happening but lets look at the draw anyway.
The really interesting first round matches are: Read more
Posted in Alexandr Dolgopolov, Andy Murray, Andy Roddick, Arnaud Clement, ATP, Benjamin Becker, Bernard Tomic, Clay courts, David Ferrer, Estoril, Feliciano Lopez, Fernando Verdasco, Frederico Gil, Gael Monfils, Gilles Simon, Injury, Ivo Karlovic, John Isner, Juan Martin Del Potro, Julien Benneteau, Jurgen Melzer, King of Clay, Marcos Baghdatis, Milos Raonic, Nicolas Almagro, Nicolas Mahut, Novak Djokovic, Radek Stepanek, Rafael Nadal, Richard Gasquet, Robin Soderling, Roger Federer, Roland Garros, Thomaz Bellucci, Tomas Berdych, Tommy Haas.
The Ro
land Garros draw is being done right now!
Some of the first round matches are:
Posted in Andy Murray, Benjamin Becker, David Ferrer, Fernando Verdasco, Gael Monfils, Ivo Karlovic, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, John Isner, Juan Martin Del Potro, Juan Monaco, Jurgen Melzer, Michael Llodra, Nikolay Davydenko, Novak Djokovic, Radek Stepanek, Rafael Nadal, Richard Gasquet, Robin Soderling, Roger Federer, Roland Garros, Stanislas Wawrinka, Tomas Berdych
Fresh off a house move and a second anniversary break spent with wife Brooklyn Decker, Andy Roddick has made his return to the European clay courts he barely stepped on last year. Last season Roddick, currently ranked 12, struggled with form and illness only played Roland Garros in this section of the season.
In their first round match Roddick came up against Flavio Cipolla who won the match 6-4, 6-7, 6-3 in 3 hours, 2 minutes. The American’s huge serve was uncharacteristically broken four times during the course of the match. Read more
Posted in Andy Roddick, Brooklyn Decker, Clay courts, Flavio Cipolla, John Isner, Madrid, Mardy Fish, Roland Garros
